Susanna Reid Faces Viewer Backlash After Returning to Good Morning Britain Following Summer Break

Susanna Reid made her much-anticipated return to Good Morning Britain on Monday, September 2, after a nearly two-month hiatus from the ITV show. The 53-year-old presenter had been on an extended summer break and returned to the program alongside co-host Ed Balls for the first time since July.

During her return episode, the duo discussed the controversial topic of taking children out of school during term time. Under current regulations, parents can face fines if their child misses school without a valid reason, a policy aimed at ensuring consistent attendance. However, Reid’s apparent support for the idea that children should always attend school during term time sparked a wave of criticism from viewers. Many took to social media to express their disagreement with her stance, told Daily Express.

One viewer commented, “So funny, Susanna who can’t manage an attendance rate of 50% shows mock outrage at kids taking a holiday.” Another shared, “As a child, I had multiple holidays during school time because I was in a single-parent household, and my mother couldn’t afford to pay the extreme rates. Today I have 2 degrees and work as a Mental Health Professional, so it wasn’t as damaging as #GMB are trying to portray.”

Others voiced their frustration with the program’s narrative. “Ffs! How did my generation ever survive? We used to have holidays in term time, no strict uniform, and the general rules were far less strict. How did we manage to survive in the grown-up world?” one viewer asked. Another criticized Reid’s view, saying, “Simply untrue about kids missing some days of education impacting their earning potential. How very one size fits all of you.”

The backlash continued with one viewer calling the presenters’ views “ignorant,” particularly towards the homeschooling community, stating, “What about the mass home-educated population who go on to thrive! Please do better! You are sharing harmful untrue information to scare parents purely for the benefit of the government.”

Despite the criticism, Reid’s return to the show was welcomed by many of her fans. Announcing her comeback on Sunday, September 1, Reid wrote, “ELLO SEPTEMBER! Back to your screens tomorrow (with @edballs) after an incredible summer – looking forward to seeing you all.”

Viewers expressed their excitement at her return, with one commenting, “So good to see Susanna back in her chair. Things should get back to normal now.” Another added, “Susanna looking gorgeous. So lush to have her back on hosting duties.” Reid’s return has clearly reignited viewer interest, even as her comments continue to spark debate.